Spring retarding device



E. VA HARTFORD.

sPmNG Hmmm: um@

APPLICAHOH HLED MAY219I34 KEHEWEDSEP'L 22. 1919. 11,401,252, utmtfd Dec. 27, 1921.

E. v, HAHN-mm.

svmw Hummm @ax/m15 APFLICMION FILED MAY 2, 193. 'HENEWESEPWI 2X2, 1919, l [,401252. Psitnte Deu. 27, 1921.

2 jllETS-SIIELT L.L

www@

EDWARD vAssALLo HARTFORD, oF'DEAi., `NEW JERSEY, AssIGNoR To EDWARD'- 31,-

UNITED 's'rliorriss Piyiiaav'r orifice.,

HARTFORD, INC., OF NEW YORK, Yi., A. CORPORATION F NEW YORK.

SPRING RETARDING Davies..

Specification of Letters Patient. Patented Dec. 27, 192]@ Continuation ofappl'ication Serial No. 263,307, filed June 41, 1905. This application filed May 2, 1913.

Serial No. 765,071. Renewed September22,`1919.

` To all 'who/m, t 19mg/ concern:

Be it known that' I, EDWARD VassnLLo HAnTFoiin, a citizen of the United States, residing at Deal, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in nSpring Retarding Devices, adapted especially "for use as an antivibration device forvehicles employing spring suspension vmeans 'to modify the action of said spring suspension means when subjected to violent shocks and rebounds due to obstructions and irregularities in the road being traveled.

Devices of this general nature have been devised andit is the object of my present invention to improvev thereon by producinga device which is ot' simplified construction, oli' increased efficiency, and cheaper to manufacture by making the parts of such shape as to conform to the vsimplest and cheapest methods of manufacture.

One instance ofa device of this general kind is that shownv in United States Letters .Patent to J'. M. M. Truffault, No. 743,995, in which device the supporting arms and separate friction disks of irregular shapes are piifotally connected by means of a rigid clamping means presenting an inliexible connection incapable of bending laterally or allow ot a give ot the parts, which is desirable and necessary to prevent a derangement thei'eotl when the body of the vehicleis l'aterally swayed. y To overcome this, I provide supporting arms ot' truss-like construction, the ends oi which arms terminate in friction disks, one arm and disk being straddled by an opposing arm of foi-k or bifurcated construction, the ii'ictifonallyengaged `parts ot said arms being pivotedtogether and held in close associatioiiby means of a yielding .clamiiing means, the usual friction lmaterial being interlnised between the activecontacting ends of the arms.

This structure presents a stronger, a more compact, fiexible, and` eiiicient device, tlian any oi those which have heretofore been de signed ot which I have knowledge. Stronger wear in Serial No. 325,529.

i ture of lmany vehicles. yThe increased flexibility isljsvefnred by providing a spring of limited dimensions, which possesses the hierhest possible degree of spring tension, having a widev range of compressibility and so disposed with relation to the closely associated friction imfifibers as to permit them to cant or move .:trcim their normal positionunder laterally applied force, and to accelerate their' return to normal position, and further-- moreetfect compensation for or take-up vot ythe parts' and at the same time to automi ically maintain uniformity of pressure upon the parts, said pressure being applied at 'equiidistant points in the zone where'tlie greatest frictional contacting surface exists. efficiency is obtained by reason of the bitui` Lated construction of one ot' the support' ing members, by reason 'of which double the amount ol friction surface is obtained at' the appended claims. and the art as it now Figure l represents a side elevation of my device coinpleteand ready for installation or application to a vehicle.

Fig.` 2 is the end elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the frictional retarding connecting means for securing the operating arms to the vehicle;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the :t'riction disks taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig 5 is a modified form of the retarding connecting means shown in Fig. 3. Referring' to the drawings in detaihthe sup-- porting arms ofthe device are indicated by the numerals l and 2, these arms are prefer ably foiiiied with friction disk-like ends, the arm l beingcentrally disposed with respect to the arm 2, the latter of which is of forked or biturcated construction. The trictaining all of the frictionally engaged parte I ice friction surfaces in ordinzny up-uud-down.

play, it induces un equality oi jt'riction per Unit of surta-ee und un evenness ot wear which would be entirely unuttulnuble with the Truflnult potent construction No. 7 13,995

heretot'ore mentioned. Another desirable. result attainable resides in the fact that both the available extent of 'friction sur'luce and the eeetiveness of thut suriuce :ire increased by this bifurcation ot' the urm.

nterposed between these friction disks are suitable friction `washers und Tnnude' ot' leather, fiber, or other suit-ble muteriul, the

friction disksmnd washers being held in close association by means of un adjustable pivotal connection, which permits oi' s ininted rotation as well ns lateral movement of der out-line'untl it is by the .employment ot' pressed or expanded its otite own thicltni the psrtsjwith respect to one another. This connection is un adjustable one, `forming as Ait were an adjustable clump by means ot' which e greater or yless extent et v iriotional adherence between the parts muy be obtained. 'i' accomplish this by nieuns ot' u 'bolt 8 haring et one ,end fr disk-like heed 9, which is rigidly 'fastened to the disk fi, by means of suitable rivets A10 to insure ageinst any independentrota-tion of' either. Mounted on the bolt 8; .find bearing against the friction disk t i provide s sp 'ingr wusher l ot' spithis spring washer that ll obtain the internal lexil'nlity7 which is deemed essential in u device ot this kind und7 furthermore, it is by the means ofthis spider spring that I am enabled td apply the spring pressure ut thut` zone ot' the disks, where the greatest irictional. contacting' surface exists. By rcuson of the feet ofthe spring being' disposed ut equidistant ,points neur the periphery ot' thel disk '5,"upon which it bears, this spring of this particularformation employed iu this particular combination is productive of' u result which is not obtainable by any other `formation of spring. The prinnlry beneficial result. obtained by use of the spider spring is due to its ability of being coinoutwurdly to the limifrnecessury und to the further 'facts that it naturally has u large diunieter and brings the pressure neur the outer periphery of the.y friction disks where. the lgreatest inovenient occurs. und forms its own )rassure distribution. heuruw f 2' V directly on one ot the friction members without the intervention ol u distributing: plulc 'such :is would be required il :1 spring: oi'

coiled formation were employed. .inothcr equally desirable result is obtuined by rcuson ot' its characteristic inherent quality ot rangeof con'lpressibility which permits ol frictionul adjustment to moet 'the vuryinjr working conditions when applied to curs ot ditlerent Weights whereaxs u coiled spring is limited in this respect und thc tension ol` the lutter is more cusily dcstioycd.' Furthermore und finally, the lect ol the spring bcingr distributed around the peripheral portion of the disks ure indepclulently movublc. under stress. thus permittingl ccrtuiu of the feet to yield upon the cunt ol' the contini friction disk when the vehicle body swuys, while other leet oi the spring uro opcruiiugr with the desired pressure to produce the necessary friction between the parts. This produces in the whole u'struclure huviu; lr very greut intcrnul {lexibility us distinguished from the use of u coiled spring. whose pressure is constunt und lixcd in direction on the frictionul elements. und not :it different vuriuble points.

The clunipinrl nut Mund lock nut lil :irc mounted on the bolt 8. the dumping nut l. beurs against, u thin washer ll interposed between it und the spring; washer and scrves to put the latter under the required tension. The disk 5 upon which the spider spring presses as well as the disk 3 und friction washers G und T are freely mounted on the boltf8. the disks 4 und' 5 ure connected 1'- gethc'r througrh `their urlns .2 (forming the fork or bifurcuted construction heretofore described) by means of suitable bolts 22. un adjustment oit' the nut 12 along` thc bolt S will release or put the springr 1l under more or less tension causing' it lo regulate thc. degrees of trictionul adherence between the disks according;` to the desired requirements. The operating arms 1 and E3 ure provided with frictionully retarded connecting nicuus tor securinpy said urnis to the running- ,ecur und body of the vehicle. 'lwo such connectingmeans ure shown. In Fig'. il of thc, drawings, l5 is the operating :i1-1u lo which is secured u collar or sleeve 1G, provided with integrul coneshuped surfaces 17. Two friction washers. or concs lH--l ure adapted to extend partly within suid sleeve und are held in place by menus ot the holt. 19 passing, through said cones, und u uut Q0, which serves to hold thein in plucc und udjust the tension thereof'. Suitable l'rictionu'l nnlteriul or washers 2l muy also be provided between the shoulder ofV the collur und the cones. Tn Fig. I is shown 1| construction somewhat siniilur,y but in this lorlu there is but one coneshuped washer 1S. which cooperates with thebcyeled slumldcr on the sleeve. while a nut Q0 on the boli 1S) serves to udjust the tension. lt will bc uudcrstoml that the beveled washer, or cone i8 as shown iiil Fig. 5, is secured rigidlyh to the bolt i9. The same is true oi the right hand washer in Fig. 3. By adjusting nut 2,0, the tension :of the friction surfaces may bc readily regulated. i

,Froin the foregoing description the operation of the device willvbe readily understood. One .of the operating arms is vsecured to the running gear of the vehicle,`and the other arm to the body portion. By adjusting the tension of the .various frict-ir'nially contact* ing parts the action of the supporting `s rin in the vehicle ma be retarded to any P gs .l

usually :fective degree of tension, and when this ad' to bring the more effective -eral spirit thereof, and

desired extent, a little adjustment beingl necessary to ascertain the niost ci justment has been made it will be preserved through the compensating spring.pressure ofthe spider. It will be clearly seen `that a number of modifications` maybe made in mydevice without departing from the genmany changes may be made' from the exact form illustrated.

Having thus described my invention,'what I claim as new herein and desire to secure -by Letters Patent is:

1. A shock absorber vfor vehicles having spring supporting means, the -same compris ing a device, the parts oi which move with alreluctance or drag and means for attachingsaid device to relatively indepemlently movable parts of a vehicle to modify the action of the spring supporting means, and means for adjusting or varying the degree of reluctance or drag in. the movementof theparts, said means comprisingf a spider-- shaped spring associated with said parts to apply pressure ata plurality of equidistant points thereagamst.

J2. A shock absorber ccini'irising a pair or' arms, a bolt for securing said arms together 'at one end,

a spring disposed upon said bolt having a plurality of radial members acting upon onepf said arms adjacent to the'outer edge 'of the pivoted end thereof, and means to increase the pressure ot said spring to maintain .a pr nioitionally constant and uniform degree olf lrictional engagement between said parts at pointsl successively removed from said bolt as the pressure upon said spring increased and portions ot said parts into operation as greater degrees ot retardation are required.

3. A shock absorber for vehicles having springr supporting means, the same comprising a device the parts of which move with a reluctance or drag means lorattaching said device to relatively indepcndcntl \v movable parts of a vehicle to modify the action of the spring supporting means. and meansfor adjusting or varying the degree of reluctance or drag 1n the n'iovement oit the parts, said means comprising a device associated with a plurality against.

4l. A shock absorber for vehicles having spring su.} ipoitilig means, comprising an arm adapted to be attached to one movable part of the vehicle, a bifurcated arm pivoted to and embracing said First arm and adapt# ed to-he attached to a different part oit' the vehicle,- a plurality ot' means cooperating with the arms V:lor producing al drag or retardative action on the movement; of the spring,T supporting means, and a substantially flat metal spring formed to exert a uniform pressure `upon the' retardative means of said shocl' absorber. v

`5. A, shock absorber .tor vehicles .having spring sui'iporting .nieans, comprising Ian arm adapted. to be attached to one movable part ol`| the vehicle, a biiurcated arm pivoted to and emli racing said first arm and adapted to be attached, to a diilerenft part of the vehicle, a plurality ol disks cooperating with said arms for producing a drag or retardative ,action on the movement othe spring' supporting means, and` a device formed to exert a constant pressure adjacent to the outer peripheries of said disks and the cooperating surfaces of said arms.

(i. A shock absorber for vehicles having spring supporting means, comprisingan arm adapted to be attached to one movable part of the vehicle7 a bifurcated arm pivoted to and embracing said first arm and adapted to be attached to a different movable part of the vehicle, and means cooperating lwith, the arms for producing a drag or reta rdative action on the movement oi the spring supporting means, said means including a de vice associiutcil with saidv parts to apply pressure. at a plurality oit' equidistant points thereagainst, -the pressure-applying surfaces of said device being independently movable under stress. Y

7. A shock; absorber tor vehicles having spring supporting means. comprising inner and outer superposed friction disks, the alternate disks being composed ot unlike material of different degrees of hardness, means for supiiorting said disks in superposed relation, the outer disks being connected to prevent relative rotation thereof, means for attaching said connected disks to one 01"' the parts of the vehicle7 means tor attaching a centrally located dislcvto another part of 'the vehicle, and a tensioning device mountcd on said supporting mcans and adaptcd to maintain all ot said` disks in constant fric` tional contact over their entire opposed laces, whereby said dislts will more with rcluctancc. and retard the moi-'ement of the vehicle parts.

8. A shock absorber for vehicles having spring supporting means, comprising flat friction disks having portions extending from their` peripheries adopted for connection to relatively oppositely mo'vebie parts, of e vehicle, one of said friction disks being' ioceted intermediate of the others, friction elements disposed between the opposed faces of said disks, e pivote-l supp rt foy said disks ends-.iid ietion elements, and means mounted `oil-seid pivotal support for maintaining seid disks and elements in. Coperative association, seid Ineens including s tensioning device sdspted'to exert a. constant pressure uponnii of seid ps1-ts, whereby seid disks and seid friction elements wiil function'to i'eterdvthe relative movement of the Avehicle perte.

9. A shock 'absorber 'for vehicles having spring supporting Ineens, comprising a plm rality of annular disks having portions en:u tendlng from their peripheries adapted for connection to relstiveiy oppositely movable vparts of s veliiole, one of said. friction disks being vlocated intermediate of the others, friet-ion eieinents of substantially thesnine diemetei" es disks disposed between the opposite 'surf-sees of seid disks, e pivotei support foi" said disks and said friction sie ments, and ineens monnted on sind pivotal support for maintaining said disks end Seid elements in, Cons-tent ffritionel Contact oven the entife reas of theirgopposed feces, said Les; ,ses

l'mehment to a movable port of the vehiele,

means for connecting en intermediate disk to another per-trof the vehicle, :ind o teu'sio'ning device mounted on said supporting ineens and adapted toexert pressure upon all of said disks to maintain the seme in eonstnnt frictional Contact over their entire opposed faces, whereby seid disks willmove with a reluctance und retard the relative movement ofthe vehicle parts.

In witness whereof l' have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

nimm) vASsALLo HARTFORD.

lVitnesses lli-Timun P, Mom'ooziinni',

Hmmm D. KnNsiNs. 

